The Reach

Located in Richland, Washington, The Reach is a museum dedicated to the scientific, natural and cultural history of the Hanford Reach segment of the Columbia River. President Clinton designated the entire area the Hanford Reach National Monument in 2000. It is significant for its abundant wildlife and also its history in nuclear development: the plutonium that fueled the Fat Man atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan on August 9, 1945 was generated at one of the nuclear reactors that once operated here. The museum features exhibits exploring this history as well as the development of agriculture and local community history. The museum also emphasizes environmental conservation.